Method of and apparatus for treating shoes with steam and hot air



Feb. 8, 1949. M. MAESER 6 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHOES WITH STEKM AND HOT AIR Filed Jan. 14, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor i9 2% Mazes e 7"v Feb. 8, 1949. M. MAESER 0 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SHOES WITH STEAM AND HOT AIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1948 Inventor Mia 27; Maese 7" Feb. 8, 1949. -55 I 2,460,940

METH OF AND APPARATUS FOR 1' TING WITH STEAM AND HOT A 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 S ES Filed Jan. 14, 1948 kzL fnvenlm" Mz'ezh Maeser" Patented Feb. 8, 1949 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR, TREAT- ING SHOES WITH STEAM AND HOT AIR Mieth Maeser, Beverly, Mass., assignor toUnitcd Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Flemington,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application January 14, 1948, Serial No. 2,268

8 Claims.

This invention is concerned with the problem of conditioning thermo-plastic toe-stiifeners of partially fabricated shoes for toe-lasting. One of the factors involved in this problem is the time element predicated upon the potential output of six shoes per minute by a toe-lasting machine of the type set forth in United States Patent 2,324,509, granted July 20, 1943, on application of B. J orgensen.

A conditioning apparatus of two-shoe capacity must be capable of softening a toe-stifiener in A; minute to keep pace with a lasting machine of the type above specified. Since a large proportion of the inner surface of a toe-stifi'ener is obstructed by a last, nearly all the heat required by the area so obstructed must be conducted to it by the vamp, which, itself, constitutes a heat barrier that must be heated at a very rapid rate. Dry heat of suificient intensity to penetrate a vamp of chrome-tanned skin and soften a toestiffener thereunder in minute would burn the vamp, but steam at 260 F. will not only penetrate such a vamp without burning it but will soften a toe-stiffener in /3 minute. Still, that alone would not solve the problem if the insole were also subjected to steam at a temperature required by the toe-stiffener.

The reason is that vegetable-tanned leather (of which insoles are made) would be burned by steam or by visible water-vapor (commonly termed steam) at any temperature above 167 F. Reduced to simple terms then, the Problem is to soften a thermo-plastic toe-stiffener in minute without damaging a vamp of chrometanned skin or an insole of vegetable-tanned leather.

Therefore, the invention provides an improved treatment for softening a thermo-plastic toestiffener in a partially fabricated shoe, the treatment consisting in flowing steam in atmosphere on the outer surface of the vamp, and simultaneously flowing hot dry air on the bottom of the insole in sufiicient volume and with sufiicient velocity to prevent the steam from wetting the insole. The moisture content of the steam may thus be used to accelerate the conduction of heat through the vamp and the toe-stiffener while the hot air flowing on the insole not only protects the latter against being wetted by the steam but supplies its own heat to the interior surface of the lasting margin of the toe-stiffener. Tests of treatment in accordance with the invention have demonstrated that a temperature of 356 F. will not burn a vegetable-tanned insole in /3 minute if the insole is quite dry, also that such insoles may tolerate very small quantities of moisture at temperatures not far below356 F.

Referring to the drawings, 7

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an apparatus for treating shoes according to the present invention, the treatment unit being represented partly infront elevation and partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the treatment unit (see line II--II in Fig. 1)

Fig. 3 isan inverted horizontal section of the treatment unit, turned 90 clockwise (see line IIL-III in Fig. 2);

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale of the elements constituting a treatment stationj and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of an assemblage of needle valves and other elements by which air and steam are heated, directed andregulated.

A typical example of the type of shoe for which the present invention is intended is illustrated in the aforesaid Jorgensen Patent2,324,5( 9 and in Fig. ,4 of the present disclosure. Its components include a vamp l0, an insole H, a lining I2, .a thermoplastic toe-stiffener 13 and. a doubler between the toe-stiffener and the vamp. For the sake of simplicity the drawing represents the: vamp and the doubler as merged in one ply instead of representing them individually.

In the usual course of making a shoe of this type the toe-lasting operation is performed; by

one machine after the sides have been lasted by iii another machine; Furthermore, the toe-lasting machine disclosed in the aforesaid Jorgensen patent includes means for applying lasting ce-,

ment to those surfaces of the insole and the vamp that are to be pressed one against the other by the lasting Wipers. Those surfaces should be nearly ifnot quite dry when the lasting cement is applied to them, because any consider able moisture on them would impair the adhesive effect of the cement.

The shoe-treating apparatus herein described includes a casing l5 that provides a treatment chamber is of two-shoe capacity into which the foreparts of shoes may be inserted through individual openings asrepresented in Fig. 2, Atmospheric pressure'is maintained in this chamber except as it may be exceeded in negligible degree'when escape of air and steam is obstructed by shoes undergoing treatment. The walls of the chamber It are thick and composed largely of heat-insulating material l9, but the top and bottom are lined, respectively, with confronting metallic heat-radiating members l1 and l8 in which electrical heat-generators 20 are embedded. The members I! and i8 are spaced one from the other far enough to clear the toes of shoes inserted between them.

Steam conducted to the member H by a tube 21 flows through a crooked conduit 2211; which it is superheated anurfrom which it is eventually emitted into the chamber #6 in many small jets through ports 23 arranged to direct the jets toward the heat-radiating member IS. The mem-- her I! is capable of superheatinggthersteamwtor ai temperature of at least 260 F;

Air above atmospheric pressure is conducted to the member H; by a tube ZSand-thence-throug'ha crooked conduit 26 in whioh it is superheated; and from which it is eventually emitted into the chamber l6 from small ports 21- arranged to direct jets toward the heat-radiating member H. Themember I8 is capable ofasuperheating the air in the conduit. 26 to a temperature of at least 356"F."

The steam-ports -z3arexarranged in two groups. one..for. each of two shoes standing sideby side and projecting into the treatment chamber as representediin, Fig; 2': The ports. of each group areJso. situated as. to flow steam downwardly on the -outer surface ofthe vamp IO- (Fig. 4), and they are sonumerous that a toe-stiffener I3 may be conditionedfor lasting in. about minute.

Meanwhile,...i,ets.of hot air emitted by the ports boundedlby those. margins, themember l8 and the insole... -'Ihe. heatiise-suppliei to. the toe, stiffneupartly, byrconvection, partl'yby. conduce tiomandpartly. by radiation -from the members i1 andlls the conduction being. accelerated .by

the: moisture;- content of the. steam;

Each tr-eatment.- station is providedwith a bar 38 for..supporting the heel endof-a. shoe, with a sillslaronewhich .therball. portion of the shoe may stand. andwith tin-arch 311 divided. into individ uatly T adgiustable. segments adapted tobe flexed by .1;he-forepart of. (the.shoeand'itoconform thereto, the archebeing: composed-mt some resilient materiallisuch. ascfelt, and its. effect being: to. re-

strictr-thewinfiux of. coolsair. to thechamber i6 and-the; :eiliuxv. of. hotiair therefrom.

Eiglrincludeseconventional representationsof an; air.-;nump; 3i.,-- ;a low-pressure boiler 32-, and

othen. elements combined rtherewith for: supplyb ingysteamtosthe tube 2| inregulatablaquantities; and butt-air. inr-regiilatable quantities to the-tube 253.. The boiler: 32.:is: a closed; pressure-sustainingx; esseliicontaining :an electric heating: unit .33 of::thea-immersiorr;type.. The'iboiler' will be=sup= pliedzbuts-not'i'fiiled .with'swater 35 tOZbBTibOilBd; but a space will be provided forsteamzabovetthe watch Aimwillf be suppliedibyrtheepumpfii andtforoed above atmospheric :pressure through' a' tube; 35 and "thereby conductedim; one of 'a' series of fit-- tings all in potential'communication' with one anothei and"includingfour needle-valves 36, 31', 33, and =39: These-valvesandoth'er fittingsare assembl'ed and connected i'na'metallic casing 4c in Which an electric heat-generator 4! is' embedded. Molten" lead 42" or some alloy,- poured into the casing) after thefittings are assembled thereim fill'sthe casing and conducts heat therefrom hr thefittings: All the" fittings through which air and steam are conducted may therefore be maintained at a high temperature by the element 4|.

In practice, the valves 36, 31, and 33 will be left open when it is desired to treat shoes as hereinbefore specified, and the. valve 38 will remain closed exceptwhen it' is desired: to modify the treatment as hereinafter explained. Continuing on the basis of leaving the valve 38 closed, some of the air pumped through tube 35 will flow through-valve'3i'; tube 25 and superheater [8 to be emitted. with considerable velocity by the ports 22 (Fig. 4). At the same time some of it will flow. through valve 36; tube 43 and boiling water 34. Amixture of-air and steam will flow from the boiler 32, through tube 44, valve 39, tube 2|, s-uperheater H- and emission ports 23. Although some air is mixed with steam in the boiler, it is so thoroughly saturated with moisture while bubbling through the boiling water that it .has littl'aif any, diluting effect upon the steam.

If the character of the work or the conditions of treatment suggestthat a smallouantity of steam would be beneficial if mixed with the air flowing, through the tube 25, it can be supplied through the valve 38.

Having. described. my invention, what I J claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Inited States is:

1...)3nat-iznprovement in methods of treating a partially fabricated shoe. having a. thermoplastic. toe=stifiener, which. consists in flowing. steam on 1 the outersurface of. the.vamp until'the toe-stife feneri covered thereby. is. rendered. limp, and simultaneously flowing hotiair on. the bottomof thelinsole'. inrsuihcient volume. and. with suifie cient velocity. to. prevent. the; steam. fromwet? tingthe insole.

2. Thatimprovement in methodsof treatinga partially fabricatedshoe having a thermoplastic toesstiftener, which consists indirecti'ng. a plu-. rality, of jets of. steam. against .the outer surface offtheportionof the vamp that-masks the toestifi'ener, and simultaneously directing a pluralitvof J'etsof hot air. againstthe bottom of the forepart' of the insole.

3. That. improvement in methods of treating a partially, fabricated shoehaving a thermoplastic toe-stiffener,which consists in emitting pressure steam downwardly against the outer surface. of the. portion of a vamp that masks. the. toe-stiffenen, and simultaneously emitting hot air above atmospheric pressure upwardly against the bottom oftheforepartof the insole in sufficient'volume and with sufiicient velocity to blow. the steam awayfrom theinsole.

4. Thatiimprovement in methodsof treating apartially fabricatedshoe having a thermoplastic toe=stiffener; which consists in heatingan'd wetting the. toe-stiffener. and the corresponding areaof'thevamp. with steam above the temperatilremf' boiling water, and simultaneouslyblowing'thefsurplus steam away from the insoleiwith compressed air" hotterrtham the: steamiandiimpinging against the-bottom of-the -in'sole.

51'Shoe treating apparatus comprising means forming a treatment chamber having an open= ing to" receivetheforepart of a'shoe,,two confronting heat-radiators insaid chamber each having heat-generator and. a conduit, means for supplying steam to oneof saidconduits'; and

meansfor-supplying air above atmospheric pres sure 'to'the-othercone of said conduits; said concluits having outletsarranged to emit jets of steamer-1d air-respectively against opposite sur faces of a forepart interposed between said radiators.

6. Shoe-treating apparatus comprising means forming a treatment chamber having an opening to receive the forepart of a shoe, a conduit having an outlet for emitting a jet of air in said chamber, means for supporting a shoe in a position to locate the bottom of its forepart across the jet so emitted, means for supplying air above atmospheric pressure to said conduit, a steamconduit having an outlet for emitting a jet of steam against the outside of the vamp of a shoe so positioned, and means for supplying steam to said steam-conduit.

7. Shoe-treating apparatus comprising means forming a treatment chamber and including a wall having an opening to receive the forepart only of a partially fabricated shoe, means for emitting one or more jets of steam against the outside of the vamp of a forepart in said chamher, and means for emitting one or more jets of hot dry air against the outside of the forepart of the insole in sufiicient volume and with enough velocity to prevent the steam from wetting the No references cited. 

